Today's letters: No to clock tower

Published: Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 25, 2013 at 4:59 p.m.

To the editor: Of all the must-sees on U.S. travel lists, I haven’t found a single one that includes a clock tower.

Come to think of it, I don’t ever recall wanting to see a clock tower on my vacations. I did think about the Bok Tower in Florida once, but that’s a 205-foot bell tower in a pretty garden.

So why does Hendersonville City Council want to spend $60,000 on a clock tower?

Why would visitors or residents stand in awe of a clock tower when within 50 feet is an impressive one in the First Citizens Building? In fact, most people have probably seen one since there are two pages of 200 in Wikipedia.

According to the Times-News, “Overall, public comments showed support … for the sculpture design by Bruce White of Dekalb, Ill.” Mr. White’s design was soaring, inspiring and unique and preferred by the public who are paying for it.

Why are we being ignored? Our community is vibrant, and it is a disservice to us to settle for a Disneyland/Dollywood substitute.

Elected officials, please step back and reconsider. I can say this with surety, there isn’t a major tour organizer coming here for a clock tower unless it’s 205 feet high.

Eva L. Ritchey

Hendersonville

Common sense

To the editor: I read with dismay the gun control comments by our new sheriff. I’ve met Sheriff Charlie McDonald and was impressed by his intelligence and character.

I get it that Republican politicians think they’re scoring points by touting the Second Amendment and swearing to defend it. But when the highest law enforcement official in our community says: “I will always defend that right. And I think a lot more people really need to start doing a gut check and decide where they draw that line” — what does he mean?

If his “gut check” doesn’t align with laws coming from Washington, how exactly does he envision “drawing that line”?

The U.S. has by far the highest gun ownership rate on the planet. Per capita, we own 14.1 guns for every gun in the U.K., and have 40 times the firearm death rate! It’s not a matter of freedom; it’s a matter of common sense.

It’s long past time for leaders like the sheriff to show some courage and resist the urge to pander to the dangerous and worn-out platitudes of the NRA. It’s long past time to create a society that’s safe for our children — and the rest of us.

Ken Gaylord

Hendersonville

Frightened souls

To the editor: The tragedy of 9/11 should never be forgotten. The continual trashing of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights in the guise of “national security,” “public safety,” “the greater good,” whatever, is unacceptable. A child can understand this.

The past 12 years have seen American freedom replaced by government harassment, intimidation, bullying and surveillance of every description. These activities aren’t for your protection; they’re all about control. And control. And control. To all of you who feel “more safe”: How pitiful. Paraphrasing Ben Franklin: Those of you who are willing to sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither.

Our courthouse is now under lockdown with a security checkpoint. As I’m neither a criminal nor a terrorist, I refuse to be treated as such. The resulting impasse effectively denies my access to due process. Of course, I will be told to “get over it.” That’s the type of convoluted logic that has us in this miserable mess today.

We’ve become a nation of frightened souls who have elected to place our fate into the hands of a severely dysfunctional state.

<p>To the editor: Of all the must-sees on U.S. travel lists, I haven’t found a single one that includes a clock tower.</p><p>Come to think of it, I don’t ever recall wanting to see a clock tower on my vacations. I did think about the Bok Tower in Florida once, but that’s a 205-foot bell tower in a pretty garden.</p><p>So why does Hendersonville City Council want to spend $60,000 on a clock tower?</p><p>Why would visitors or residents stand in awe of a clock tower when within 50 feet is an impressive one in the First Citizens Building? In fact, most people have probably seen one since there are two pages of 200 in Wikipedia.</p><p>According to the Times-News, Overall, public comments showed support for the sculpture design by Bruce White of Dekalb, Ill. Mr. White’s design was soaring, inspiring and unique and preferred by the public who are paying for it.</p><p>Why are we being ignored? Our community is vibrant, and it is a disservice to us to settle for a Disneyland/Dollywood substitute.</p><p>Elected officials, please step back and reconsider. I can say this with surety, there isn’t a major tour organizer coming here for a clock tower unless it’s 205 feet high.</p><p><em>Eva L. Ritchey</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>Common sense</h3>
<p>To the editor: I read with dismay the gun control comments by our new sheriff. I’ve met Sheriff Charlie McDonald and was impressed by his intelligence and character.</p><p>I get it that Republican politicians think they’re scoring points by touting the Second Amendment and swearing to defend it. But when the highest law enforcement official in our community says: I will always defend that right. And I think a lot more people really need to start doing a gut check and decide where they draw that line  what does he mean?</p><p>If his gut check doesn’t align with laws coming from Washington, how exactly does he envision drawing that line?</p><p>The U.S. has by far the highest gun ownership rate on the planet. Per capita, we own 14.1 guns for every gun in the U.K., and have 40 times the firearm death rate! It’s not a matter of freedom; it’s a matter of common sense.</p><p>It’s long past time for leaders like the sheriff to show some courage and resist the urge to pander to the dangerous and worn-out platitudes of the NRA. It’s long past time to create a society that’s safe for our children  and the rest of us.</p><p><em>Ken Gaylord</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>Frightened souls</h3>
<p>To the editor: The tragedy of 9/11 should never be forgotten. The continual trashing of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights in the guise of national security, public safety, the greater good, whatever, is unacceptable. A child can understand this.</p><p>The past 12 years have seen American freedom replaced by government harassment, intimidation, bullying and surveillance of every description. These activities aren’t for your protection; they’re all about control. And control. And control. To all of you who feel more safe: How pitiful. Paraphrasing Ben Franklin: Those of you who are willing to sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither.</p><p>Our courthouse is now under lockdown with a security checkpoint. As I’m neither a criminal nor a terrorist, I refuse to be treated as such. The resulting impasse effectively denies my access to due process. Of course, I will be told to get over it. That’s the type of convoluted logic that has us in this miserable mess today.</p><p>We’ve become a nation of frightened souls who have elected to place our fate into the hands of a severely dysfunctional state.</p><p>So much for the land of the free and the home of the brave.</p><p><em>Jim Ryan</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p>